|
Watsonians 55 Hawick 6
|
|
|
|
Watsonians secured second place in the top flight table with a convincing win over Hawick at Myreside on Saturday.
|
|
|
|
For the home side back-row Jamie Rennie missed out through illness, but apart from his absence and the injured trio of Andrew Skeen, Will Rowley and Jonny Pelter the side was at full strength as players looked to secure starting spots in this weekend’s cup quarter final team. Nick Hart also got a rare start at hooker.
|
|
|
|
Hawick, meanwhile, rested a few players ahead of their last eight clash with Border rivals Melrose on Saturday.
|
|
|
|
The match started scrappily and it was evenly poised until just before the break. At that stage Watsonians led 12-6 thanks to tries from captain Kyle Traynor – after a good break from winger Ali Rowe – and one from in-form second-row Torrie Callander which was converted by stand-off Scott Kennedy.
|
|
|
|
It should be noted that Kennedy was struggling to bark out instructions to his back line as the 25-year-old was sounding like Barry White after suffering a windpipe injury the previous week against Heriot’s.
|
|
|
|
Hawick had kept themselves in the match thanks to two penalties from second-row David Lowrie, who gave the ball a real skelp and reminded those in the stand of John Eales.
|
|
|
|
However, Watsonians flying machine Rohan Steyl grabbed his side’s third try on the stoke of half time and, although it had not been pretty at times, a 17-6 lad allowed Watsonians to throw the ball about in the second half.
|
|
|
|
Half time – Watsonians 17 Hawick 6
|
|
|
|
Tries came after the break from replacement full-back Mike Ker, Rowe, another replacement Craig Sorbie, Steyl, flanker Sam Paulo and yet another replacement Andrew Welsh to bring up the half century. Kennedy and Ker scored the rest with their respective boots.
|
|
|
|
It was pleasing to see Ker, Sorbie and Welsh on the score sheet as the former has not had much game time of late and the latter two are coming back from bad injuries. The pick of the scores came from Paulo, playing scrum-half by that point, as he took a pass from centre Doug Brown to score after a great run by Rowe had set it up.
|
|
|
|
Full time – Watsonians 55 Hawick 6
|
|
|
|
A great way to end the league campaign at home (there is still an away match against Dundee HSFP to be rescheduled) and set up the squad nicely for the quarter final against Biggar at Myreside this Saturday.
|
|
|
|
The side has really stepped up a gear since the new year and credit for that must go to coach Cammy Mather and skipper Kyle Traynor.
|
|
|
|
Man of the match: Sam Paulo continues to impress in various different positions, while Torrie Callander is maturing with every match and wing duo Ali Rowe and Rohan Steyl are on fire.
|
|
|
|
However, Nick Hart put in a great shift at hooker though, making the most of his start to give opposite number Hue Scammell a tough time and also showing up well in the loose. Well done Nick.
|
|
|
|
We hope to see as many folk down on Saturday (3pm) for the cup quarter-final against Biggar at Myreside.
|
|
|
|
PS – It was good to see former first XV front-rower Scott “Whammo” Laird back at Myreside on Saturday. Laird is currently living and working in London.
|
|
|
|
GH
|
|
watsoniansrugby.com
|
|
Published: 30/3/08
|
|
|